Charlie Rose joins list of accused harassers
Charlie Rose, the longtime TV journalist who co-hosts CBS This Morning, contributes to 60 Minutes and is best known for his PBS interview show, Charlie Rose, has just been added to the growing roster of men who have been accused of sexually harassing or assaulting the women they work with.
He’s copping to most of it, and CBS and PBS have announced that he or his show are being suspended.
The Washington Post reported late Monday that eight women told the newspaper that Rose, 75, made unwanted sexual advances, including lewd phone calls, walking around naked in their presence or groping their breasts, buttocks or genital areas, while they worked for him or aspired to work for him.
Following that report, Business In
sider published accounts from three unnamed women, who said that in 2005, 2008 and 2010, while they interned for Rose or sought to work for him, Rose behaved inappropriately. Two of the women described being greeted in a bathrobe as he invited them into his home; one said he touched her on the thigh while dropping her off at her dormitory.
The Post’s accusations cover the late 1990s to as recently as 2011. The accusers ranged in age from 21 to 37 at the time. “There are striking commonalities in the accounts,” the report said.
The Post said three of the eight spoke on the record. Five spoke on the condition of anonymity “out of fear of Rose’s stature in the industry, his power over their careers or what they described as his volatile temper.”
Rose, who has been prominent on American television screens for 45 years, disputed the accuracy of some of the allegations but acknowledged his misdeeds and apologized in a statement to The Post.
“It is essential that these women know I hear them and that I deeply apologize for my inappropriate behavior. I am greatly embarrassed. I have behaved insensitively at times, and I accept responsibility for that, though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate. I always felt that I was pursuing shared feelings, even though I now realize I was mistaken.
“I have learned a great deal as a result of these events, and I hope others will too. All of us, including me, are coming to a newer and deeper recognition of the pain caused by conduct in the past, and have come to a profound new respect for women and their lives.”
Shortly after The Post’s story went online, PBS issued a statement.
“PBS was shocked to learn today of these deeply disturbing allegations. We are immediately suspending distribution of Charlie Rose.
“Charlie Rose is produced by Charlie Rose, Inc., an independent television production company. PBS does not fund this nightly program or supervise its production, but we expect our producers to provide a workplace where people feel safe and are treated with dignity and respect.”
CBS issued its statement to USA TODAY shortly after it was reported on
CBS Evening News. “Charlie Rose is suspended immediately while we look into this matter. These allegations are extremely disturbing and we take them very seriously.”
The Post said rumors about Rose’s behavior have circulated for years but got new attention in the wake of the accusations against fallen Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, which set off a cascade of allegations against men across multiple industries.